5 Best Command Line Music Players for Linux

If you're a Linux user who loves to listen to music, then you're in luck! There are many command line music players available for Linux that can enhance your listening experience. Here are top five command line music players for Linux −

CMUS

CMUS is a lightweight, fast, and powerful music player for terminal. It has a simple and intuitive interface that allows you to quickly navigate through your music library. CMUS supports various audio formats such as MP3, FLAC, and WAV, among others. One of standout features of CMUS is its ability to handle large music libraries with ease.

To install CMUS on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install CMUS using following command −

sudo apt-get install cmus

Once installed, you can launch CMUS by typing cmus in terminal.

MOC

MOC, or Music On Console, is another popular command line music player for Linux. Like CMUS, MOC is lightweight and fast, making it ideal for older machines. It supports a wide range of audio formats, including MP3, Ogg, and FLAC.

One of unique features of MOC is its ability to display album art in terminal. It also supports various themes, allowing you to customize its appearance to your liking.

To install MOC on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MOC using following command −

sudo apt-get install moc

Once installed, you can launch MOC by typing mocp in terminal.

MPD

MPD, or Music Player Daemon, is a powerful command line music player that can be controlled using a client interface. MPD runs in background and can be controlled using various client applications, such as ncmpcpp and Sonata.

MPD supports various audio formats, including MP3, FLAC, and Ogg. It also supports various plugins, such as last.fm scrobbling and output to a sound card or ALSA.

To install MPD on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MPD using following command −

sudo apt-get install mpd

Once installed, you can launch MPD by typing mpd in terminal.

NCMPCPP

NCMPCPP is a client interface for MPD that provides a powerful and customizable music player experience. It supports various features, such as tag editing, playlist management, and music library browsing.

NCMPCPP has a customizable interface that allows you to create your own keybindings and layout. It also supports various plugins, such as album art display and lyrics fetching.

To install NCMPCPP on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install NCMPCPP using following command −

sudo apt-get install ncmpcpp

Once installed, you can launch NCMPCPP by typing ncmpcpp in terminal.

CANTATA

CANTATA is another client interface for MPD that provides a modern and intuitive music player experience. It has a clean and simple interface that allows you to easily manage your music library and playlists.

CANTATA supports various features, such as tag editing, album art display, and lyrics fetching. It also supports various plugins, such as last.fm scrobbling and Icecast streaming.

To install CANTATA on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install CANTATA using the following command −

sudo apt-get install cantata

Once installed, you can launch CANTATA by typing cantata in terminal.

MPlayer

MPlayer is a versatile media player that supports various audio and video formats. It can be used as a command line music player for Linux, allowing you to play your music files without any graphical interface.

MPlayer supports various audio formats such as MP3, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV, among others. It also has various audio processing features such as equalizer and audio filters.

To install MPlayer on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MPlayer using following command −

sudo apt-get install mplayer

Once installed, you can launch MPlayer by typing mplayer followed by path to your music file.

VLC

VLC is another versatile media player that can be used as a command line music player for Linux. It supports various audio formats such as MP3, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV, among others.

VLC also has various audio processing features such as equalizer and audio filters. It can be controlled using various command line options, allowing you to customize your listening experience.

To install VLC on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install VLC using following command −

sudo apt-get install vlc

Once installed, you can launch VLC by typing vlc followed by path to your music file.

MPV

MPV is a free and open-source media player that can also be used as a command line music player for Linux. It supports various audio formats such as MP3, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV, among others.

MPV has various audio processing features such as equalizer and audio filters. It can also be controlled using various command line options, allowing you to customize your listening experience.

To install MPV on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install MPV using following command −

sudo apt-get install mpv

Once installed, you can launch MPV by typing mpv followed by path to your music file.

FFMPEG

FFMPEG is a powerful multimedia framework that can be used as a command line music player for Linux. It supports various audio formats such as MP3, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV, among others.

FFMPEG has various audio processing features such as equalizer and audio filters. It can also be controlled using various command line options, allowing you to customize your listening experience.

To install FFMPEG on your Linux machine, you can use your distribution's package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can install FFMPEG using following command −

sudo apt-get install ffmpeg

Once installed, you can launch FFMPEG by typing ffmpeg followed by path to your music file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Linux users have a plethora of options when it comes to command line music players. Whether you're looking for a lightweight and fast player like CMUS or MOC, or a powerful client interface like NCMPCPP or CANTATA, there's a player out there for you.

These command line music players can enhance your listening experience and provide a new level of control over your music library. So why not give them a try and see which one works best for you?